Chemical constituents and in vivo preliminary evaluation of the toxicological activity of Ouratea spectabilis (OCHNACEAE) and Clitoria guianensis (Fabaceae) leaves

Clitoria guianensis and Ouratea spectabilis, found in the Brazilian Cerrado, are used in folk medicine, despite the few chemical and biological studies reported in the literature. The present study aims to investigate the toxicity and effect of extracts from both species on the microcrustacean Artemia salina, and to determine the chemical composition of the hexane extract of O. spectabilis leaves and the EtOAc fraction of C. guianensis leaves. Kaempferitrin, a flavonoid isolated from of the EtOAc fraction of C. guianensis leaves, was identified by chemical analysis. Analysis of the hexane extract of O. spectabilis leaves using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) suggested the presence of twenty-five known substances. The Hex, EtOAc, and EtOH crude extracts of C. guianensis leaves exhibited high and moderate toxicity against Artemia salina, with median lethal dose values (LD50) of 43.7, 25.4, and 233.4 mg.L−1, respectively. The acetone extract of O. spectabilis leaves showed moderate toxicity against Artemia salina with an LD50 value of 115.13 mg.L−1.

Efecto de bacterias emulsificantes en la atenuación de la fitotoxicidad de suelos contaminados con petróleo intemperizado / Effect of emulsifying bacteria on phytotoxicity attenuation of soils contaminated with weathered petroleum hydrocarbons

Introducción: Las plantas y los microorganismos se han utilizado como bioindicadores de la toxicidad inducida por hidrocarburos presentes en los suelos. Objetivo: El presente trabajo evaluó la toxicidad de un Gleysol contaminado de origen con diferentes concentraciones de petróleo intemperizado, recolectado en la Venta Tabasco (México), en el crecimiento de Clitoria ternatea, y la atenuación de la fitotoxicidad con la inoculación de bacterias emulsificantes. Metodología: Se usaron suelos con 50 y 150 g HTPI kg-1, y un suelo testigo con 0.15 g HTPI kg-1 (origen biogénico), y la inoculación de seis bacterias emulsificantes y su combinación (consorcio). La fitotoxicidad de los HTPI se evaluó considerando la altura, la biomasa seca (radical, aérea y total), el área foliar, el área foliar específica, y la eficiencia del fotosistema II (EPSII), a los 30 días. Resultados: Los HTPI no afectaron la altura, pero el suelo con 50 g HTPI kg-1 redujo la biomasa seca radical y total, y el área foliar con respecto a las plantas en los suelos testigo y con 150 g HTPI kg-1. La cepa Sml (Stenotrophomonas maltophilia C10S1) incrementó significativamente la biomasa seca total; la cepa Ro (Raoultella ornithinolyticaC5S3) produjo mayor área foliar específica con respecto a plantas no inoculadas. En el suelo testigo, el consorcio bacteriano estimuló la altura; las cepas Sm (Serratia marcescens C11S1) y Sm2 (S. marcescens C7S3) mejoraron la altura y el área foliar específica con respecto a plantas no inoculadas, en el suelo con 50 g HTPI kg-1. En el suelo con 150 g HTPI kg-1, las cepas Spa (Stenotrophomonas pavanii C5S3F) y Cfr (Citrobacter freundii C4S3) incrementaron la biomasa seca radical y aérea, respectivamente. La EPSII no fue afectada por la contaminación de los suelos. Las bacterias emulsificantes redujeron la fitotoxicidad de HTPI, pero dependiendo de su contenido en los suelos. Conclusiones: El suelo con 50 g HTPI kg-1 mostró mayor toxicidad en el crecimiento de las plantas. La inoculación bacteriana favoreció el crecimiento, producción de biomasa, y área foliar en el suelo con 150 g HTPI kg-1. La EPSII no fue afectada por la presencia de HTPI en el suelo.

Introduction: Plants and microorganisms have been used as bioindicators to evaluate the toxicity of hydrocarbons in soils. Objective: This study evaluates the toxicity of a chronically-contaminated Gleysol with several concentrations of weathered petroleum hydrocarbons (WPH), collected from La Venta, Tabasco (Mexico), on the growth of Clitoria ternatea and the phytoxicity attenuation due to inoculation of emulsifying bacteria. Methods: Soils with 50 and 150 g WPH kg-1, and control soil with 0.15 g WPH kg-1 (biogenic origin) were utilized, as well as the inoculation of six emulsifying bacteria and their combination (consortium). The WPH-phytotoxicity was evaluated by considering plant height, dry biomass production (root, shoot, and total), leaf area, specific leaf area, and the efficiency of photosystem II (EPSII), after 30 days. Results: WPH did not affect plant height, but soil with 50 g WPH kg-1 diminished root and total dry weight, and leaf area, when compared to both control soil and soil with 150 g WPH kg-1. The strain Sml (Stenotrophomonas maltophilia C10S1) significantly increased shoot and total dry weight, while the strain Ro (Raoultella ornithinolytica C5S3) produced higher specific leaf area relative to uninoculated plants. In control soil, the bacterial consortium stimulated plant height. The strains Sm (Serratia marcescens C11S1)and Sm2 (S. marcescens C7S3) improved plant height and specific leaf area when compared to uninoculated plants in soil with 50 g WPH kg-1. In soil with 150 g WPH kg-1, strains Spa (Stenotrophomonas pavanii C5S3F)and Cfr (Citrobacter freundii C4S3)enhanced root and shoot dry weight, respectively. The EPSII was unaffected by soil contamination. Emulsifying bacteria reduced the phytotoxic effects of WP, but depending on the content of WPH in soils. Conclusions: Soil with 50 g WPH kg-1 showed the greatest phytotoxic effects on plant growth. Bacterial inoculation favored growth, biomass production and leaf area in soil with 150 g WPH kg-1. The EPSII was not affected by WPH in soils.

Anthocyanins from Clitoria ternatea Attenuate Food-Borne Penicillium expansum and its Potential Application as Food Biopreservative

Clitoria ternatea or Commonly known blue pea, is a perennial climber crop native to Asian countries. The current study was aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity C. ternatea extract on food borne microorganisms and its antifungal effect on Penicillium expansum. The extract showed significant antimicrobial activity against 3 Gram positive bacteria, 2 Gram negative bacteria and 1 filamentous fungus on disc diffusion assay. The extract also showed good biocidal effect on all Gram positive bacteria tested and P. expansum. However, the kill curve analysis revealed that the fungicidal activity of the extract against P. expansum conidia was depend on the concentration of the extract and the time of exposure of the conidia to the extract. The scanning electron micrograph of the extract treated P. expansum culture showed alterations in the morphology of fungal hyphae. The germination of P. expansum conidia was completely inhibited and conidial development was totally suppressed by the extract, suggesting the possible mode of action of anthocyanin. Besides, the extract also exhibited 5.0-log suppression of microbial growth relative to control in the rice model. The results indicate the potential use of the C. ternatea anthocyanin as food biopreservative.

Potential physiological seed Clitoria fairchildiana howard in time function and drying temperature / Potencial fisiológico de semente de Clitoria fairchildiana howard em função do período e da temperatura de secagem

The species Clitoria fairchildiana Howard, native to the Amazon region, by a rustic species and be of rapid growth, has been useful in heterogeneous reforestation for the reclamation of degraded areas, used in the planting of streets, public squares, roads and parking lots, due to its wide, leafy canopy and its rapid growth. The work was developed in the Laboratory of Analyses of Seeds of Centro de Ciências Agrárias of Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the physiological potential of C. fairchildiana seeds submitted to different drying times. The experimental design completely randomized, with treatments distributed in a factorial 4 x 5 (temperatures and periods of drying). It was evaluated to determine the water content after the drying processing for each period (0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours). For the evaluation of the effect of temperatures (35, 40, 45 and 50 °C) were performed the following tests: water content, germination, germination speed index (IVG), as well as length and dry mass of roots and aerial portion of seedlings. Drying of seeds of C. fairchildiana is recommended at the temperature of 35 °C, within drying 6 hours without compromising the physiological quality of seeds.

A espécie Clitoria fairchildiana Howard, nativa da região amazônica, por se trata de uma espécie rústica e de rápido crescimento, tem sido utilizada nos programas de reflorestamentos heterogêneos destinados à recuperação de áreas degradadas com potencialidade para arborização de ruas, praças, rodovias e estacionamentos, devido à sua copa larga e frondosa. O presente trabalho foi conduzido no Laboratório de Análises de Sementes do Centro de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Dessa forma, objetivou-se avaliar o potencial fisiológico de sementes de C. fairchildiana submetidas a diferentes períodos de secagem. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente ao acaso, com os tratamentos distribuídos em arranjo fatorial 4 x 5,(temperaturas e períodos). Preliminarmente determinou-se o teor de água das sementes para cada período de secagem (0, 6, 12, 18 e 24 horas). Para a avaliação do efeito das temperaturas (35, 40, 45 e 50 °C) foram realizados os seguintes testes: teor de água, germinação, índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG), bem como comprimento e massa seca de parte raízes e parte aérea das plântulas. Para a secagem de sementes de C. fairchildiana é recomendada à temperatura de 35 °C por até 6 horas de exposição à secagem sem comprometer a qualidade fisiológica de suas sementes.

Frequências de cortes em nove leguminosas forrageiras tropicais herbáceas cultivadas ao sol e sob plantação florestal / Cutting frequencies of nine herbaceous tropical forage legumes cultivated under full sun light and under a forest plantation

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a produção e o valor nutritivo de nove espécies de leguminosas forrageiras herbáceas tropicais, cultivadas sob dois níveis de irradiação luminosa e seis frequências de corte na estação chuvosa, em Anhembi (SP), Brasil. Parcelas puras foram estabelecidas ao sol e sob plantação de Eucalyptus grandis, com 8 anos de idade, com 1.000 árvores/ha, que interceptou mais de 80% da radiação luminosa incidente. Avaliou-se a taxa de acúmulo de matéria seca, a proteína bruta e a digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca em amostras de plantas colhidas em intervalos de 30, 60, 90 e 180 dias, com cortes adicionais aos 120 e 150 dias. Sob pleno sol, as leguminosas testadas toleraram cortes mais frequentes (intervalos de 30 - 90 dias), exceto o Lablab. Na sombra, o grau de tolerância variou conforme a espécie; em termos de produção de MS e de persistência, a Centrosema e a Puerária se destacaram dentre as demais leguminosas comparadas, quando os cortes foram realizados em intervalos de 60 dias, enquanto o Arachis e o Estilosantes foram os mais produtivos quando os cortes ocorreram em intervalos de 120 dias, mantendo o valor nutricional. O Alysicarpus e a Aeschynomene não persistiram sob o nível de sombreamento que prevaleceu nesse experimento.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the production and nutritive value of nine tropical legumes under two light intensities and six cutting regimens in the wet season, in Anhembi (SP) - Brazil. Pure stands were established in full light and under an eight-year-old eucalyptus plantation with 1.000 plants per hectare. The trees intercepted over80% of the incident radiation. Dry matter herbage accumulation, dry matter in vitro digestibility and crude protein under the cutting intervals 30, 60, 90 and 180 days, with additional cuttings at 120 and 150 days were evaluated. With the exception of Lablab, all other tested legume species tolerated higher cutting frequency under when grown under full sun light then under shade. The degree of shade-tolerance varied according to the species; Centrosema and Pueraria produced well at cutting intervals of 60 days, showing higher dry matter production and persistence while Arachis and Stylosanthes showed better results under longer cutting intervals, keeping the nutritional value, and can be indicated for differential grazing. Alysicarpus and Aeschynomene did not persist under the prevailing conditions.

Physiological quality seeds Clitoria fairchildiana R. A. howard during storage / Qualidade fisiológica de sementes de Clitoria fairchildiana R. A. howard durante o armazenamento

The species Clitoria fairchildiana R. A. Howard, belonging to the family Fabaceae is a fastgrowing ornamental tree, with potential for use in reforestation for heterogeneous vegetation reconstruction and recovery of degraded areas. Storage is aid in quality programs, which allows the preservation of the quality of seeds, however, the water content of the same is a crucial factor in its preservation, because it is high may cause deterioration and death of seeds stored. In this way the objective to evaluate the germination and vigor of seeds of C. fairchildiana stored with different levels of water. That's way was an experiment in completely randomized design in a factorial 5 x 7 (water levels and periods of storage). Before storage for 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 days, the seeds were subjected to drying in an oven at 40 °C for 0, 6, 12, 18 and 12:0 am, to obtain the following water levels: TA1 = 19.05, TA2 = 13.60, TA3 = 11.99%, TA4 = 10.51% and TA5 = 8.70%, respectively. After each interval of storing seeds were subjected to the following evaluations: determination of the moisture content, germination and vigor tests (emergency, first count of germination and emergence and germination speed index and emergence, seedling dry mass and length). The reduction of water content of seed C. fairchildiana to 10.5 and 8.7% (TA4 TA5 and, respectively) resulted in greater preservation during storage, giving Orthodox behavior for stand drying until it reaches the water content of around 8%.

A espécie Clitoria fairchildinana, R. A. Howard pertencente à família Fabaceae, é uma arbórea ornamental de crescimento rápido, com potencial de utilização nos reflorestamentos heterogêneos destinados à reconstituição da vegetação e recuperação de áreas degradadas. O armazenamento é auxílio em programas de qualidade, que possibilita a conservação da qualidade das sementes, contudo, o teor de água das mesmas é um fator crucial na sua preservação, se elevado, pode provocar deterioração e morte das sementes no armazenadas. Objetivou-se avaliar a germinação e o vigor das sementes de C. fairchildiana, quando armazenadas com diferentes teores de água. Para isto realizou-se um experimento em delineamento inteiramente casualizado em um fatorial 5 x 7 (teores de água e períodos de armazenamento). Antes do armazenamento as sementes foram submetidas à secagem em estufa na temperatura de 40ºC durante 24 horas, para a obtenção dos diferentes teores de água (TA1, TA2, TA3, TA4 e TA5) correspondentes aos períodos de secagem de 0, 6, 12, 18 e 24, respectivamente. Para cada período de secagem foi determinado o teor de água das sementes e estas foram armazenadas em geladeira por 120 dias com avaliações nos períodos de (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 e 120) dias. Após cada intervalo de armazenamento as sementes foram submetidas às seguintes avaliações: (determinação do teor de água, germinação e emergência, primeira contagem de germinação e emergência e índice de velocidade de germinação e emergência, comprimento e massa seca de plântulas). A redução do teor de água das sementes C. fairchildiana para 10,5% e 8,7% (TA4 e TA5), respectivamente, resultou em uma maior conservação das mesmas durante o armazenamento. As sementes da referida espécie tem comportamento ortodoxo e suporta a secagem por 24 horas quando as sementes atinge o teor de água em torno de 8%.

Germinação e vigor de sementes de Clitoria fairchildiana R. A. Howard. - Fabaceae em função da coloração do tegumento e temperaturas / Seed germination and vigor of Clitoria fairchildiana R. A. Howard. fabaceae-depending on the coloration of seedcoat and temperatures

Clitoria fairchildiana Howard, nativa da região amazônica é bastante utilizada em programas de reflorestamento, na arborização de ruas, praças públicas, rodovias e estacionamentos devido à sua copa larga e frondosa e ao seu rápido crescimento. Diante de sua importância realizou o trabalho com o objetivo de estudar a influência da coloração do tegumento e da temperatura na germinação e vigor de sementes de C. fairchildiana. A pesquisa foi conduzida no Laboratório de Análise de Sementes, do Centro de Ciências Agrárias, da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, em Areia - PB. Avaliou-se a germinação das sementes marrons e pretas em temperaturas constantes (25, 30 e 35 °C) e alternada (20- 30 °C). O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 2 x 4 (coloração e temperaturas), em quatro repetições. As variáveis analisadas foram: germinação, índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG), comprimento e massa seca de plântulas. A qualidade fisiológica das sementes de Clitoria fairchildiana de coloração preta é inferior comparativamente à de coloração marrom, independentemente da temperatura utilizada para sua avaliação.

Clitoria fairchildiana Howard, a native of the Amazon region is widely used in programs of reforestation, afforestation, streets, public squares, roads and parking lots due to its large and leafy cup and its rapid growth. Before its significance was the work with the goal of studying the influence of coloured tegument and temperature on the germination and vigor of seeds of C. fairchildiana. The survey was conducted in the laboratory of analysis of seed from the center of Agrarian Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, in Areia-PB. Assessed the germination of seeds and brownish black in constant temperatures (25, 30 and 35 °C) and alternating (20-30 °C). The experimental design was entirely at random, in schema factorial 2 x 4 (staining and temperatures), four repetitions. The variables analyzed were: sprouting, germination speed index (IVG), length and mass seedling drought. The physiological quality of seeds of Clitoria fairchildiana black staining is less compared to Brown in colour, regardless of the temperature used for their assessment.

Evaluation of antioxidant potential of Clitoria ternata L. and Eclipta prostrata L.

Free radical-mediated oxidative stress is believed to be the primary cause of many disorders, such as cardiovascular diseases, brain dysfunction, cataract, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, cancer, ageing etc. In treatment of these diseases, antioxidant therapy has gained an utmost importance in the recent years. Current research is now directed towards finding naturally occurring antioxidants of plant origin. In Indian system of medicine, Clitoria ternata L. and Eclipta prostrata L. are the important medicinal plants, which have a wide range of applications. In the present study, the antioxidant potential of aqueous extracts of C. ternata and E. prostrata was evaluated by determining the levels of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. In vitro antioxidant capacity was also determined using different assays and the results were compared with standard antioxidants such as butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT), ascorbic acid and rutin. Our results showed that both plant extracts possessed significant levels of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and also exhibited antioxidant capacity. However, C. ternata showed higher levels of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, as compared to E. prostrata. In addition, the antioxidant capacity of C. ternata was observed to be significant as compared to E. prostrata.

Cloning and characterization of resistance gene analogs from under-exploited plant species

Genomic DNA sequences sharing homology with NBS region of resistance gene analogs were isolated and characterized from Pongamia glabra, Adenanthera pavonina, Clitoria ternatea and Solanum trilobatum using PCR based approach with primers designed from conserved regions of NBS domain. The presence of consensus motifs viz., kinase 1a, kinase 2, kinase 3a and hydrophobic domain provided evidence that the cloned sequences may belong to the NBS-LRR gene family. Conservation of tryptophan as the last residue of kinase-2 motif further confirms their position in non-TIR NBS-LRR family of resistance genes. The Resistance Gene Analogs (RGAs) cloned from P. glabra, A. pavonina, C. ternatea and S. trilobatum clustered together with well- characterized non-TIR-NBS-LRR genes leaving the TIR-NBS-LRR genes as a separate cluster in the average distance tree constructed based on BLOSUM62. All the four RGAs had high level of identity with NBS-LRR family of RGAs deposited in the GenBank. The extent of identity between the sequences at NBS region varied from 29 percent (P. glabra and S. trilobatum) to 78 percent (A. pavonina and C. ternatea), which indicates the diversity among the RGAs.

role of herbal drugs in psychiatry

The therapeutic uses of various herbal drugs for psychiatric disorders have a long tradition in India, China and other Asian cultures. The unwanted side effects of synthetic psychotropics have contributed to the increasing interest in phytotherapeutic agents. Improved understanding of appropriate and safe uses of naturally occurring substances as psychotropic agents will greatly contribute to global mental care. An important objective of this paper is to stress the scientific evidence, supporting the use of natural products in psychiatry. Traditional Ayurvedic drugs used in psychiatry is briefly discussed. Knowledge of the properties of these therapies supported by clinical evidence, efficacy and safety profile can improve the care of psychiatric patients